Timer

ABSTRACT

Two different gears mounted on the same axis and driven from a single power gear train to provide one gear as a slowly revolving timer with selectable pins triggering intermittent operation of the faster power output gear. The power output gear has a recess which interrupts its drive from a pinion rotated constantly by the gear train, and the triggering pin on the slow timing gear overtakes at a predetermined time setting and drives the output gear to effect re-engagement of the pinion therewith. An undercut portion of the gear recess radially beneath the portion of the gear teeth on the output gear disposed to be re-engaged by the drive pinion enables yielding of the gear teeth on the output gear to effect intermeshing of the gear teeth thereof with the gear teeth of the drive pinion in the event of conflict. The hub of the output gears extends axially through the slower timing gear and has a knob thereon for manual turning of the output gear during manual servicing, and the drive pinion is axially movable to disengage the same from the output gear during such manual servicing. The slow timer gear is spring biased axially to operative position and is manually movable axially against the spring and away from the output gear to free the timer gear from the gear train and provide for pre-setting the time of day for triggering or initiating operation of the output gear. A spring biased arm on the output gear is engageable by a pin on the timer gear to initiate re-engagement of the output gear by the drive pinion, after which the output gear rotates through something less than a full revolution until the drive pinion registers with the recess therein, and the arm pivotally yields against its spring as it engages successive pins during such rotation of the output gear by the drive pinion. In one embodiment the arm is withdrawn from the path of the pin at all times except when a predetermined fact occurs.

United States Patent 1 1 Grout May 15, 1973 [54] TIMER [75] lnventor: Edward C. Grout, Deerfield, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Sta-Rite Industries, 1nc., Delaven,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,302,467 2/1967 Prosser ..74/35.5

Primary ExaminerMilton Kaufman A ttorney- Andrus. Sceales. Starke 8L Sawall [57] ABSTRACT Two different gears mounted on the same axis and driven from a single power gear train to provide one gear as a slowly revolving timer with selectable pins triggering intermittent operation of the faster power output gear. The power output gear has a recess which interrupts its drive from a pinion rotated constantly by the gear train, and the triggering pin on the slow timing gear overtakes at a predetermined time setting and drives the output gear to effect re-engagement of the pinion therewith. An undercut portion of the gear recess radially beneath the portion of the gear teeth on the output gear disposed to be re-engaged by the drive pinion enables yielding of the gear teeth on the output gear to effect intermeshing of the gear teeth thereof with the gear teeth of the drive pinion in the event of conflict. The hub of the output gears extends axially through the slower timing gear and has a knob thereon for manual turning of the output gear during manual servicing, and the drive pinion is axially movable to disengage the same from the output gear during such manual servicing. The slow timer gear is spring biased axially to operative position and is manually movable axially against the spring and away from the output gear to free the timer gear from the gear train and provide for pre-setting the time of day for triggering or initiating operation of the output gear. A spring biased arm on the output gear is engageable by a pin on the timer gear to initiate re-engagement of the output gear by the drive pinion, after which the output gear rotates through something less than a full revolution until the drive pinion registers with the recess therein, and the arm pivotally yields against its spring as it engages successive pins during such rotation of the output gear by the drive pinion. In one embodiment the arm is withdrawn from the path of the pin at all times except when a predetermined fact occurs.

10 Claims. 11 Drawing Figures PAIENIE HAY] 5197s sum 1 OF 4 24 INVENTQR EDWARD c. GROUT ,1 X y 2/ M M ATTORNEYS PATENTEB MY 1 51375 SHEET 2 [1F 4 8 \/f mum 1 m1 EDWARD c. GROUT I BY 59 ATTORNEYS PATENTED MAY 1 5197s SHEET 3 [IF 4 INVENTOR EDWARD C. GROUT 7 '7 AL/JJM ATTORNEYS PAIENIEB 3,732,738.

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ATTORNEYS TIMER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to timers for'controlling intermittent timed actuation of various mechanisms such as water softener regeneration cycles, lawn sprinkler systems, burglar lighting systems and the like.

Heretofore such timers have been complicated and of generally expensive construction requiring many gears of different size and separate hour and day timing wheels with separate gear trains for driving the timing mechanism and the power output from a single motor.

The many gears, lugs and pins involved in providing an adjustable timing of the output makes the present day timers expensive and costly for servicing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a much simpler timer with the control wheel and the power output shaft on the same axis and directly interconnected by one or more adjustable pins on one engageable with a spring biased pivotal arm on the other. A stop limits the pivotal movement of the arm in one direction toward which the spring biases the arm.

The drive gear on the power output shaft has the usual recess to receive the drive pinion therefor and interrupt the drive between each revolution of the shaft, and in order to provide for intermeshing of the teeth on the drive gear with the teeth on the drive pinion upon initiation ofa revolution for the output shaft, the teeth of the drive gear in the region of re-engagement with the pinion are undercut to permit a radial yielding of the teeth as the teeth on the pinion engage the same.

The control wheel represents one or more basic selective time periods for triggering a revolution of the output shaft at-the initiation of each successive time period as the control wheel slowly reotates. The basic time period may correspond to a full revolution of the control wheel or to any portion thereof corresponding to the rotational distance between any two pins equally spaced around the axis of the control wheel and output shaft.

In one embodiment illustrated, six pins are spaced equally about said axis whereby a predetermined drive triggering between the control wheel and output drive gear may occur once each revolution of the control wheel, twice each such revolution, or thrice each such revolution, or six times each revolution depending upon the number of pins adjusted to drivingly engage the spring biased arm. If the control wheel rotates once every six days the triggering is thus selectively set by the pins to provide initiation of a revolution for the output shaft each day, every other day, every third day, or every sixth day.

In another embodiment, an additional lost motion is incorporated between the operative pin and the output gear whereby engagement of the pin with the arm can be effected only in the event ofa given condition ofthe apparatus being controlled.

The control wheel may be temporarily declutched from the drive motor to provide for adjustment of the triggering time in a desired time relation to the clock or calender. For this purpose in the embodiment illustrated the control wheel is driven by gear teeth thereon meshing with a pinion of a motor driven drive gear train, and the wheel is axially movable to disengage its teeth from the pinion and a spring biases the same axially toward the position of drive meshing with the pinion. Additional adjustment is provided by providing a movable dial on the control wheel.

The output shaft drive gear may be declutched from the drive motor to provide for manual checking of the mechanism being controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Both embodiments constituting the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the timer with parts broken away and sectioned to show details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. l; FIG. 5 is a detail section taken on line 55 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic layout of the drive train involved;

FIG. 7 is a section corresponding to FIG. 5 and showing another embodiment employing an additional lost motion for the actuation of the output gear by the control pin;

FIG. 8 is a section taken generally on line 8-8 of FIG. 7 with parts broken away and sectioned;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the arm retracted from the path of the pin;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the arm retraction mechanism in a position approaching triggering; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the arm entering the path of the pin toward the position of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The timer illustrated in the drawings comprises a frame consisting of a front plate 1 and a rear plate 2 secured rigidly to each other by corner screws 3 with intermediate sleeves 4 on the screws to space the plates apart.

A drive motor 5 is mounted on the back side of rear plate 2 and drives a power shaft 6 extending through rear plate 2 with a main drive pinion 7 on the inner end of shaft 6.

A speed reduction gear train 8 is driven by main drive pinion 7. In the embodiment illustrated gear train 8 comprises a series of alternate pinions and gears of gen erally similar size mounted on two axes 9 and 10.

The gear 11 is mounted on axis 9 and meshes directly with main drive pinion 7 to be driven thereby constantly by the synchronous motor 5.

The hub of gear 11 provides a pinion 12 on the inner side thereof and which in turn meshes with and drives gear 13 rotatable on axis I0.

The hub of gear 13 provides a pinion 14 on the inner side thereof and which in turn meshes with and drives gear 15 rotatable on axis 9.

The hub of gear 15 provides a pinion 16 on the inner side thereof and which in turn meshes with and drives gear 17 rotatable on axis 10.

The hub of gear 17 provides a pinion 18 on the inner side thereof and which in turn meshes with and drives a gear 19 on axis 9 and which drives the main control gear or wheel 20 rotatably mounted on the output shaft 21 and disposed in a complementary circular opening in front plate 1.

The output shaft 21 extends rearwardly through the rear plate 2 and is journalled in a suitable bearing therein.

The output shaft 21 normally carries one or more earns 22 adapted to engage corresponding micro switches 23 for the purpose of operatively controlling equipment such as water softener regenerators, lawn sprinklers, burglar night lights, etc. For this purpose it is desirable to rotate shaft 21 through one revolution for each control cycle and to stop the rotation of the shaft for a predetermined substantial period between each revolution thereof.

For this purpose, a large gear 24 is secured upon shaft 21 to rotate the same, and a gear 25 meshes with a gear such as gear 13 of gear train 8 and has its hub provided with a pinion 26 which meshes with gear 24 to drive the same.

Stopping of gear 24 at the end of each revolution is accomplished by providing a recess 27 in the circumference thereof and which interrupts the gear teeth thereon so that when the gear is rotated to a position where pinion 26 leaves the teeth on gear 24 and registers with recess 27 the drive is disconnected.

Starting of gear 24 in its cycle of one revolution is accomplished by a lost motion interconnection between the control wheel and gear 24.

In the embodiment illustrated, for instance, the gear 24 takes approximately 1 hour and 14 minutes for its cycle of one revolution and the control wheel 20 takes approximately six days for one revolution and the lost motion connection between the two is adapted to provide initiation of the rotational cycle for gear 24 by the control wheel 20 at a given time each day, or every other day, or every three days, or only once during each six days.

This control is effected by six pins 28 spaced equally circumferentially of wheel 20 and which are threaded through the wheel with convenient knobs 29 on the outer ends thereof.

A pin 28 is normally inoperative when in a withdrawn position outwardly of the front face of wheel 20 and becomes operative when pushed inwardly as far as knob 29 will permit when it engages the wheel.

The gear 24 has a lever arm 31 pivoted on a stud 32 on the inner face thereof.

The arm 31 is biased to normally engage a stop 33 on the inner face of gear 24 by a tension spring 34.

The arm 31 extends radially outward into the path of the operative pins 28 so that as control wheel 20 slowly rotates an operative pin 28 engages the arm 31 on the opposite side from stop 33 and slowly moves the arm and stop in the direction ofrotation of wheel 20, which then brings the gear teeth on gear 24 at the advancing edge of recess 27 into engagement with drive pinion 26.

In order to assure proper meshing of the pinion 26 with the advancing tceth ofgear 24 the latter are made yieldable as by the undercut 35 beneath a portion of the gear teeth on the advancing side of recess 27.

After pinion 26 meshes with the teeth on gear 24 the latter is rotated at a much faster rate than control wheel 20 and arm 31 then advances away from the operative pin 28 which initiated the cycle.

As gear 24 continues to rotate for its revolution at a faster speed than control wheel 20 the arm 31 may ride over any operative pins 28 that come in its way by yielding against the spring 34.

The time for initiating a given cycle of operation of gear 24 and output shaft 21 is preset by adjustment of the control wheel 20 relative to gear 19. This may be facilitated by a dial plate 36 secured upon the face of wheel 20 and having a scale dividing the space between each pair of adjacent pins 28 into 24 hour designations 37, and providing an index pointer 38 on front plate 1 to register with the desired hour designation 37 at the time the corresponding operative pin 28 engages arm 31 to initiate rotation of gear 24.

The dial plate 36 is secured to the face of wheel 20 by screws 39 which pass through slots 40 in the plate and are threaded into the wheel 20.

Each slot 40 may extend arcuately in plate 36 for a distance corresponding to the area of timing adjustment desired. For instance if operation of the device controlled is always to be initiated at night, say between midnight and about four oclock in the morning, the slots 40 need extend only over this portion of the dial plate 36.

Since the pins 28 pass through dial plate 36 the latter should have corresponding slots 41 therein similar to slots 40 and which permit adjustment of the plate in the manner described, i.e., by loosening of screws 39, turning of plate 36, and re-tightening screws 39.

In setting the timing for initiating a rotation of output shaft 21, the dial plate 36 is first moved to register the hour with the pins 28. Then after securing the plate 36, the control wheel 20 is again set at the correct time.

This adjustment of wheel 20 for timing the cycle is accomplished by manually pulling the wheel 20 axially outward on shaft 21 until the gear teeth thereon clear gear 19 and then turning the wheel 20 until the correct time designation on the dial registers with the pointer 38, and thereafter returning the wheel 20 to its operative position with the teeth thereon meshing with gear 19.

The wheel 20 has a cup shaped forward extension 42 on its face adapted to receive a knob 43 fixed on the outer end of shaft 21 when the wheel is pulled outwardly for adjustment as explained.

A coil spring 44 is disposed within cup 42 and beneath knob 43 to bias wheel 20 to its normal operative position at all times.

When, in servicing the equipment being time, it is desired to operate the shaft 21 through one or morecycles without waiting for the control wheel 20 to rotate, gear 25 and its pinion 26 may be moved axially until the teeth on gear 25 clear the teeth on gear 13 and/or the teeth on pinion 26 clear the gear 24, thus freeing the gear .24 for manual rotation of the shaft 21 by knob 43.

The timer provides a very simple time control in which only a single set of pins 28 need attention in adjusting. It is possible to provide any desired number of pins 28 and to drive the wheel 20 at any selected speed to accommodate the desired control.

The gear train 8 is generally made up of standardized gear-pinion units of the same size to reduce the cost of manufacture.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 11 of the drawings is substantially the same as the embodiment just described except that only a single pin 28 is provided for wheel 20 and the dial designations 37 are made to indicate one complete revolution of wheel 20 in a twenty four hour period, and with slots 40 and 41 correspondingly located.

Additionally, FIGS. 7 to 11 illustrate a lost motion mechanism 45 actuated by the occurrence of a separate fact. For instance, where it is desired to initiate a regeneration cycle of a water softener at a given time at night and then to do so only after a given flow of water has occurred through the softener the mechanism 45 will effectively prevent initiation of rotation of shaft 21 by pin 28 until after a given water flow has occurred.

The mechanism 45 comprises, in general, a water meter 46 connected in the flow line from the softener and which is geared to drive shaft 47 disposed parallel to power shaft 6 in the frame of the control unit.

Drive shaft 47 has a plurality of adjustable pins 48 thereon which serve as spring loaded pawls to engage a ratchet wheel 49 fixed on drive gear 50.

Gear 50 meshes with a ring gear 51 which encircles upstanding concentric flange 52 on wheel 24 and is free to rotate thereon.

Gear 51 has a concentric flange 53 extending above flange 52 to a height generally above that of stop 33.

Flange 53 has a notch or vertical slot 54 extending downwardly from its upper edge for receiving the end 55 of arm 31 when the latter is triggered to initiate a control operation.

In operation, commencing with the several parts of mechanism 45 in the positions indicated in FIG. 7, as just described, as the end 55 of spring biased arm 31 registers with slot 54 it moves radially outward into the path of pin 28. At the same time gear 50 will register with a recess 56 or interruption in the teeth on ring gear 51 whereby gear 50 will cease to drive gear 51.

Since wheel is continually rotating at a speed of one revolution per day, at the preselected time thereon pin 28 will engage end 55 of arm 31 and push it and ring gear 51 along with it toward engagement of stop 33 by the arm 31.

Stop 33 is integral with gear 24, and when it is engaged by arm 31 it will be pushed thereby in a direction to rotate gear 24 with wheel 20 as shown in FIG. 9, until constantly rotating pinion 26 engages the teeth on gear 24 and initiates power rotation thereof at a speed faster than that of gear 20.

When gear 24 picks up speed from pinion 26 the stop 33 pulls away from pin 28 and the end 55 of arm 31 is withdrawn through slot 54 by reason of the engagement of the teeth on ring gear 51 trailing recess 56 with gear which tends to retain gear 51 stationary or under the slow rotation effected by gear 50.

The recess 56 in gear 51 is constructed with an overhanging gear segment 57 trailing the recess similar to the recess 27 and the overhang and undercut 35 on gear 24.

Gear 24 continues to rotate one revolution until recess 27 reaches pinion 26 when rotation of gear 24 will stop until again initiated by pin 28.

As water is used ring gear 51 is rotated and slot 54 will slowly catch up to arm 31. the end of which will ride along the inner surface of flange 53 as shown in FIG. 11 until end 55 registers with slot 54 and gear 50 ceases to drive gear 51 as shown in FIG. 7.

For the purpose of providing an adjustment in the quantity of water flow through meter 46 in triggering initiation of a regeneration cycle, a plurality of pins 48 are provided on shaft 47 and each pin is movable selectively either to a position where it will engage ratchet wheel 49, or to a position where it will not engage the wheel as shaft 47 rotates.

If the pins 48 are equadistant circumferentially of shaft 47 and rotation of the shaft corresponding to the circumferential distance between any two adjacent pins is effected by a flow of X gallons of water through meter 46, then a complete revolution of shaft 47 will be effected by a flow of X times the number of effective pins.

An increment of rotation of ratchet wheel 49 and gear 50 will be effected as each pin 48 engages the wheel.

The selective adjustment of pins 48 will thus determine the number of gallons of water flow through the meter 46 to effect a revolution of gear 51 for triggering arm 31 and initiating a regeneration cycle.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A timer comprising a constantly driven speed reduction gear train, a control wheel geared to the output end of said train to rotate constantly at a predetermined slow speed, an output shaft mounting said wheel for free rotation thereon and having a gear fixed thereon with a recess in the circumference of the gear providing an interruption in the teeth thereof, a pinion driven continuously from the high speed end of said gear train and disposed to mesh with the teeth of said output shaft gear to drive the same in the same direction and faster than said control wheel, said recess interrupting the drive of said output shaft when said pinion registers with said recess. and lost motion means directly interconnecting said control wheel and said output shaft gear for initiating a cycle of revolution of the latter at a preset time of rotation of said control wheel.

2. The construction of claim 1 in which said lost motion interconnection comprises a plurality of pins carried by said control wheel in circumferentially spaced relation andadjustable axially to operative positions extending toward said gear, a pivotal arm carried on the face of said gear, a stop on the face of said gear limiting the pivotal movement of said arm in the direction of rotation of said gear, a spring interconnecting said arm and gear and biasing said arm toward said stop, said arm extending in the path of an operative pin during rotation of said control wheel whereby the latter effects rotational movement of the gear until said pinion engages and meshes with the advancing teeth thereof to initiate rotation of said output shaft by said pinion.

3. The construction of claim 2 and an additional lost motion mechanism disposed to effect retraction of said arm from the path of an operative pin.

4. The construction of claim 3 in which said additional lost motion mechanism comprises a ring gear concentrically mounted for free rotation relative to said output shaft gear, means to rotate said ring gear, means to retract said arm from the path of an operative pin during such rotation, and means to release said arm under the bias of said spring to effect operative engagement therewith by an operative pin and at the same time disconnect said rotating means for said ring gear.

5. The construction of claim 4 in which rotation of said ring gear is initiated in response to rotation of said output shaft gear.

wheel is axially movable on said output shaft to disengage the wheel from the gear train and provide for timing adjustment of said wheel.

9. The construction of claim 8 in which a dial is adjustably secured upon said control wheel to facilitate in the timing thereof.

10. The construction of claim 1 and an additional lost motion mechanism disposed to retard initiation of a cycle of revolution of said lost motion means. 

1. A timer comprising a constantly driven speed reduction gear train, a control wheel geared to the output end of said train to rotate constantly at a predetermined slow speed, an output shaft mounting said wheel for free rotation thereon and having a gear fixed thereon with a recess in the circumference of the gear providing an interruption in the teeth thereof, a pinion driven continuously from the high speed end of said gear train and disposed to mesh with the teeth of said output shaft gear to drive the same in the same direction and faster than said control wheel, said recess interrupting the drive of said output shaft when said pinion registers with said recess, and lost motion means directly interconnecting said control wheel and said output shaft gear for initiating a cycle of revolution of the latter at a preset time of rotation of said control wheel.
 2. The construction of claim 1 in which said lost motion interconnection comprises a plurality of pins carried by said control wheel in circumferentially spaced relation and adjustable axially to operative positions extending toward said gear, a pivotal arm carried on the face of said gear, a stop on the face of said gear limiting the pivotal movement of said arm in the direction of rotation of said gear, a spring interconnecting said arm and gear and biasing said arm toward said stop, said arm extending in the path of an operative pin during rotation of said control wheel whereby the latter effects rotational movement of the gear until said pinion engages and meshes with the advancing teeth thereof to initiate rotation of said output shaft by said pinion.
 3. The construction of claim 2 and an additional lost motion mechanism disposed to effect retraction of said arm from the path of an operative pin.
 4. The construction of claim 3 in which said additional lost motion mechanism comprises a ring gear concentrically mounted for free rotation relative to said output shaft gear, means to rotate said ring gear, means to retract said arm from the path of an operative pin during such rotation, and means to release said arm under the bias of said spring to effect operative engagement therewith by an operative pin and at the same time disconnect said rotating means for said ring gear.
 5. The construction of claim 4 in which rotation of said ring gear is initiated in response to rotation of said output shaft gear.
 6. The construction of claim 1 in which a segment of the teeth on said gear advancing into meshing relation with said pinion upon initiation of rotation of said gear by said control wheel is undercut to provide a radial yielding of the teeth for establishing meshing of the same with said pinion.
 7. The construction of claim 1 and means to move said pinion axially to free said gear for manual rotation of said output shaft in servicing the same.
 8. The construction of claim 1 in which said control wheel is axially movable on said output shaft to disengage the wheel from the gear train and provide for timing adjustment of said wheel.
 9. The construction of claim 8 in which a dial is adjustably secured upon said control wheel to facilitate in the timing thereof.
 10. The construction of claim 1 and an additional lost motion mechanism disposed to retard initiation of a cycle of revolution of said lost motion means. 